13 August 2008 Devotion for Today “The End of a Thing” Ecclesiastes 7:8

The end of a thing is better than its beginning;

The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (Eccl 7:8)

If you have been watching the Olympics this week, no doubt you have seen many competitors start off well. The other day I was watching one of the gymnastic events. I can’t recall the competitors or whose country they came from, only I do remember how determined they were as they each began their event; waiting those agonizing seconds before they began their event. Each face looked determined that they should win the gold. There were a couple of false starts, but more were good starts. However, what mattered the most was not how the competitor began, or how well they performed along the way, but whether or not the competitor landed on both feet. The spectacular finish is what drew the most applause, not the beginning. True, its always good if you can get a good start. A misstep at the beginning will stay in your mind and cause you to lose confidence until you keep making errors. Yet how often did I see the contestant recover from a mistake and end up winning a medal?

Life is so much like that. Too often we judge people by how much potential they seem to have at the beginning of their lives- good looks, a fine mind, athletic abilities, etc.

How often have I seen those whom God has given so much throw so much away. So many youth feel such pressure to succeed that they often do not even try to get into the race because they feel outclassed and overshadowed by those with greater talents. This is sad because how often have I seen others with average talent, looks, and abilities find their way to the end of their lives in greatness and with tremendous achievement. How often have I seen those with limited opportunities rise above that which stifles them to succeed when others say they will never amount to anything in life. Even then, the only true gauge of how well one has done in life is to hear their Master say to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord!”

Get the best start you can, but live in such a way to end well.

Have a blessed day!